Open Side Menu Go to the Top
Register
3 betting ranges? 3 betting ranges?

04-21-2017 , 12:28 AM
Hey guys Im wondering how you guys construct 3 betting ranges and 3bet calling ranges. I don't call many 3 bets except occasionally when in position and don't want to be expoitd by that. So far Ive only 3 bet premiums JJ+, Aq+ maybe 1010 but I don't really understand the concept of 3 betting. At nl2 I got away with this but nl10 everyone seems to be 3bet happy. Do we need some 3 bet bluffs in our range to win more pre flop and get more action with premiums? Im confused if I should be 3betting KQs type hands in blind vs button situations and if i need to 3bet light with 78s A5s hands. Ive read about polorized and merged ranges but Im only 3 betting premiums so a good starting range would be good.
3 betting ranges? Quote
04-21-2017 , 08:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt23mcg
So far Ive only 3 bet premiums JJ+, Aq+ maybe 1010 but I don't really understand the concept of 3 betting. At nl2 I got away with this but nl10 everyone seems to be 3bet happy. Do we need some 3 bet bluffs in our range to win more pre flop and get more action with premiums?
The short answer is YES, you need some balance, just as you should with post-flop bets. In any spot (pre or post) you have some hands that do best by raising and getting called (your value range), some hands that do best by calling (your mid-strength hands with showdown value), some hands that benefit greatly from fold equity, but that also have some hand equity when they get called ("semi-bluffs"), and some total air that you're looking to fold at the earliest opportunity.
If you divide your range into these 4 groups and play accordingly, then some balance will arise and that balance will help the EV of your value hands while also making your bluffs profitable.

To use 2 examples of 3-betting spots:
a) In position. If you're OTB vs MP, then you should use a somewhat polarized 3-betting range, where you 3-bet groups 1 and 3, but call with group 2. If you 3-bet QQ+/AK for value (planning to play for stacks), then hands like JJ-77, AQ, AJs, ATs, KQs, QJs, JTs form the medium strength 'group 2' hands that do well as calls. The next group of hands is slightly worse (A5s, A4s, 76s, 65s, KJs etc) so won't be very profitable as calls, but do well as semi-bluff 3-bets. "Semi-bluff" hands like A5s, 65s help to balance out the aces and kings. Even worse hands (group 4) just fold pre.

b) OOP in the SB vs CO. Here you can't profitably call many hands, so you should play almost your entire range as a 3-bet. You would use a linear range (weighted towards the top left of a hand matrix) tailored for what works best against your player pool. Something like [66+, A2s+, K9s+, QTs+, J9s+, T9s, AJo+, KQo] is 14%, but you could go looser or tighter according to what works best for your opponents.

Note that hands like TT/99 are clear calls in position, because they are in the middle (group 2) of your range, but they become 3-bets in the SB (where you 3-bet group 1, 2 and some of group 3) as you don't call much at all in that position.
3 betting ranges? Quote
04-21-2017 , 12:39 PM
Thanks that makes sense I've been calling in the small blind was too much. Ive been calling all my pairs to setmine and will add some semi bluffs in 3betting range. One last question are you ever flatting these hands in the big blind or are you 3betting like the small blind since were out of position?
3 betting ranges? Quote
04-21-2017 , 12:47 PM
You should download a program called Equilab. This gives general ranges to 3bet from the blinds versus various hand ranges.

For example versus somebody playing 50% of their hands on the button you cab 3bet as wide as 55+, A5s+, K9s+, QTs+, A5o+, KTo+, QJo
3 betting ranges? Quote
04-21-2017 , 01:56 PM
I tried to download it but haven't been able too same thing happened for poker tracker idk why but my computer "has no application that can open it"
3 betting ranges? Quote
04-22-2017 , 09:22 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt23mcg
One last question are you ever flatting these hands in the big blind or are you 3betting like the small blind since were out of position?
The big blind is a special position that has its own strategy. An optimal 3-betting range for it will be partly linear and partly polarized, but the actual ranges depend on who opened the pot. e.g. If UTG opens, then I'm flatting with TT in the BB, but if CO or BTN opened, then TT is a mandatory 3-bet.

P.S. You really need to work out a way to install Equilab. The .exe file should install just like any other program.
3 betting ranges? Quote

      
m